$100 million movie sets/York Studios to construct a 9-stage facility

(l-r) Joseph Tazewell, regional director for Empire State Development’s NYC office; Gigi Semone, executive director of the governor’s office for motion picture and television development; John Kalafatis, CEO of York Studios; Ruben Diaz, Jr., borough president; Kathy Hochul, lieutenant governor; John Battista, executive vice president of York Studios; Julie Menin, commissioner of NYC Media and Entertainment; and Michelangelo Pantanelli, son of York Studios partner John Pantanelli, who the campus has been named after.

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On Tuesday, June 6, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the York Studios’ Michelangelo Campus, a state-of-the-art film and television production complex at 1410 Story Avenue.

The project will feature a privately-gated complex which includes approximately 350,000 square feet of production space.

The Michelangelo Campus will include nine sound stages, production office space and workshops for each of the stages.

The production complex will be responsible for the future releases of films, documentaries, television programs and even music videos.

The 10-acre parcel located on the Bronx River waterfront and just off of the Bruckner Expressway, has been vacant for over 20 years.

The property, which is within walking distance from Soundview Park, was described as a contaminated wasteland in the past.

It site was the former home of Loral Electronic Co., a U.S. Department of Defense parts contractor, that moved its operation to Yonkers, but has since ceased business.

This is just the initial stage of a two-phase development project, which is being designed by Gerald Caliendo Architects. The first phase, which will consist of 170,000 square feet of construction including the curation of five production stages and is expected to cost $45 million, is anticipated to be completed in the next 16 to 18 months.

Attendees at the groundbreaking including York Studio executives, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation Marlene Cintron and Community Board 9 district manager William Rivera, among others.

“When we (York Studios) first saw this vacant lot, we didn’t just see an empty field – we saw our field of dreams,” said John Battista, executive vice president of operations for York Studios. “We are very excited to expand our facilities to the Bronx and be able to provide a state-of-the-art production complex which will offer a level and quality of service that is second to none.”

“The film and television industry is growing across the five boroughs – and the Bronx is no exception,” said BP Diaz. “York Studios’ new Michelangelo Campus will not only expand our borough’s ability to host major movie and television productions, it will also reactivate a long-dormant site and create new jobs. This is just another excellent example of the ongoing positive transformation that is taking place here.”

The Michelangelo Campus was named after York Studio partner’s John Pantenelli’s son, Michelangelo.

The campus will be located next to Bronx Arena High School at 1440 Story Avenue.

This development is expected to generate nearly $100 million in new tax revenue for the borough and employ over 400 production industry professionals, as well create hundreds of construction jobs.

Additionally, the development is set to receive $36 million in conditional tax benefits over the next 25 years.

York Studio also currently owns and operates a 40,000 square-foot location in Maspeth, Queens.

This would become the borough’s second film studio.

Last year Silvercup Studios acquired a building on Locust Avenue in Port Morris. Silvercup has operated for years in Queens.